My Darling Clementine (1946)

It is a performances centric movie

Disapointment

Absolutely brilliant

One of the most extraordinary films you will see this year. Take that as you want.

This is certainly one of the overrated ones, but not overrated by much either. It's got a good Henry Fonda starring in it, good acting overall and that contagious good Western atmosphere about it with a story that never lingers and a film that makes for a smooth viewing, well structured and pretty entertaining throughout, but just, rather than any particular criticism one should have, it is just a bit too ordinary.Most of the film really finds its strength in the tough guy dialog and the constant tension that is the trademark domain of the genre, but as far as story and moralities and what not, as a film beyond atmosphere and good acting... there really isn't much to take from it.6.5/10.

If you have read anything about the Earps, you know immediately that this is an historical travesty. Of course, that doesn't matter. I'd like to know which cattle drive the Earp brothers went on when the youngest got killed. The whole thing with Wyatt was about him as a politician. He also had a sad history with women. Now, throw that all aside and assume this movie has nothing to do with the famous family. Well, they do have the same names. By making Wyatt a squeaky clean, heroic figure, we open the door to his treatment of the bad guys. Of course, he now also has the goal of avenging his brother's murder. Hollywood also throws in a romantic element and we're off. We know that the Clantons are lurking and something is going to have to be done about them. I get a big kick out of this movie. In addition to Henry Fonda, there are some superb characters that are unforgettable.

. . . ten men their lives in MY DARLING CLEMENTINE. When Henry Fonda turns down Walter Brennan's impromptu post-sunset low-ball cattle herd purchase offer in the middle of the Arizona desert, the men do NOT exchange business cards. But you can tell by the look on Walt's face at he hotel desk later that evening that IF Hank had told him out in the desert that he was "Wyatt Earp," Walt never would have killed Wyatt's little brother and stolen the Earp cattle herd. Another Earp, Doc Holliday, two of their anonymous allies, and all five of Walt's clan then bite the dust (not to mention Chihuahua, who doesn't count because she's not a guy, she's not White, and she's not even Doc's dog!). Besides Jimmy's demise, not much happens for the first hour plus of MY DARLING. We get a smattering of Shakespeare, a smidgen of faro (which seems to be some sort of Old Timey card game), a Doc with too many women and too little breath, and a sheriff who's reluctant to meet a woman or mete out death. Then Walt has to find out that DUST BE MY DESTINY the hard way.

John Ford's version of the Wyatt Earp/O.K. Corral story may be more fiction than fact, but it's also a classic piece of filmmaking. An evocative western with beautiful cinematography and terrific acting. Henry Fonda is excellent, as you might expect. Great performance by Victor Mature as Doc Holliday. Perhaps his best. Also some wonderful work by Walter Brennan and Linda Darnell. The only reason I don't give it a perfect score is that I felt the plot wandered some instead of having a clear focus on building up to the climactic shootout. Not that I was ever bored or uninterested in what was on screen because that couldn't be further from the truth. Ford was a master of his craft and every scene is enjoyable. Definitely a must-see for everybody, not just western fans.